The first thoughts some people might have when imagining what its like learning to ride and care for a horse might be; freedom, happiness, and a unique friendship with your horse. But the truth is, learning how to ride and care for a horse means learning a variety of life skills that can help you no matter what your future holds.

In fact that's why many kids who are home schooled find this type of program very valuable. In the next few blogs, we'll go through a variety of the skills you will learn to use while training here, as well as throughout your life.

Confidence is a powerful tool for success and one of the first things you will learn in training. How you carry yourself and whether or not you speak with confidence, matters to the the horse you're working with, and in the long term will help you get you through difficult times that inevitably come up in life, such as job interviews, workplace, family or friend interactions, public speaking... the list of how this one trait can help you in the world is endless. When you are asking a 2000lb horse to do something, they do not need to listen. They are physically stronger than you, and no amount of toughness on your part can force them. They have to believe in you. Yelling and acting crazy may initially push them into going along with you, but they will not trust you. Know why you are asking them what you want, and knowing the proper way to ask them, the majority of the time, horses will be very willing to at least try if not learn and work with you.

Think about it. Out in a public situation, which type of person is going to be listened to and respected? Someone yelling, berating and scaring people, or someone speaking confidently, with a self assured voice who also knows how to be respectful to others. As you go through life whether in school, work, business or just in society, the same rules apply. Carrying yourself with confidence, and being confident in what you say, will get you further in a variety of situations than will meek and nervous, or loud, angry and crazy behavior. Look at the photos below and decide for yourself, which photo do you want to be in? Scientific research has shown that horses feel the same way. They remember a happy, kind face as well as an angry face and will seek out the happy face if they have a choice!

So how do you start working with your horse? Achieving anything seems daunting when we don't know what step is next; however having an organized plan helps us move forward more efficiently by tracking progress towards goal completion. You may think; "why do I need this? I know what I want to do". Well many people know what they want to do, but very few actually know how they are going to achieve it. Its highly unlikely everything you want in you life will just be there when you wake tomorrow morning. In reality, it take a lot of discipline, planning and work to achieve what you want, regardless of what it is. Think about the last time you really wanted something. Even wanting something as simple meeting up with a friend to go for a walk takes planning. You have to choose a date and time, not schedule anything else at the same time, you have to be dressed and ready to go, you have to have a way to get there. Are you following? Imagine something big, like learning how to do a flying lead change on a horse, in the middle of a jump course, before jumping an oxer. How big is the list of things you need to know before you can achieve that goal, and how do you attack that list? By making a plan and breaking it up into manageable pieces. The great thing about this equestrian program is that we work with you, give you a goal setting planner, and teach you how to use it. Here is where you will keep track of goals and learn how to achieve them. Do you know scientists say it takes 21 days to form a habit that becomes almost automatic? By learning how to create and achieve a goal, you have a valuable life tool to carry with you.

Follow along with us as we teach young riders about more life skills they'll develop throughout training; including how to create a healthy living environment for their horse no matter the budget, and much more!